Was the General restrained or was he forced?
international |
anti-war / imperialism |
opinion/analysis 
Sunday May 28, 2006 04:01
by Seán Ryan
Top Marine General flew to Iraq last Thursday to tell the Marines not to commit War-Crimes.
On thursday last the top General in the American Marine Core - Gen. Michael W. Hagee - flew from Washington to Iraq to finally forbid the troops to commit War-Crimes.
"We do not employ force just for the sake of employing force. We use lethal force only when justified, proportional and, most importantly, lawful," is the message the general was to carry.
This comes as an alleged massacre of 24 men, women, and children in Haditha, is slowly but surely coming to light: Marines perpetrate atrocity in Iraq? http://www.indymedia.ie/article/76299
The General was also in Iraq in April on a 'Round-Robin' tour of Marine bases throughout western Al Anbar province. Here's a picture of him on the 10th of April last, speaking with the soldiers and sailors of the 3rd batallion 3rd marine regiment at their base at Haditha Dam. It is the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment that was involved in the alleged massacre. It wouldn't do for the general to be seen posing with a bunch of alleged homocidal maniacs would it? http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/pictures/WAS101.htm
Strangely enough, at around the same time the general was doing his round-robin tour, the Marine Corps relieved Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani of his command of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment, two of his underlings were removed too.
This alleged crime against humanity happened last November. Hagee was in Iraq and in Haditha in April. The Lt. Col and his buddies were taken out of circulation in April. It is very fair to suggest that Hagee was aware of what was going on around him at the time.
More than a month later, Hagee is finally telling the troops to obey the rules of war. Why didn't he tell the troops to obey the rules in April?
Did he want to fight by the rules and was stifled by Washington?
Or
Did Washington have to reel the General in and tell him to 'tone it down a bit?'
Of course there is a third option. Hagee could have returned to Washington to make sure everyone's stories were straight and then with consent from Bush and Co. have returned to Iraq to be see to be compliant with international law. Propaganda.
"Before the war, there's no doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, biological and chemical. I expected them to be found. I still expect them to be found." Gen. Michael W. Hagee - May 21, 2003
Here's some links from the Hagee past, with an interesting cast of characters:
AFTEREFFECTS: MILITARY; Most Marines May Return From Iraq by End of August - May 22, 2003 - http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40B10FD...04482
John and uncle Michael, curiouser and curiouser. - http://jacq.org/hagee.htm - Both from Texas
Dr. John C. Hagee is the founder and Pastor of Cornerstone Church, a non-denominational, evangelical church in Texas. Hagee believes literally in Biblical prophecy and is obsessed with the Book of Revealations and it story of the Battle of Armageddon. He's been campaigning for years to help Israel to secure her borders as they were at the time of Christ - in order that biblical prophecy may be fulfilled.
Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, John Hagee, D. James Kennedy, Franklin Graham and others ........ They threw their outspoken support for him during Bush's run for the presidency and they have not ceased in that support. Many of these leaders refer to George Bush as "God's Man" for the job. - The ‘Morality’ of This President - http://www.christianethicstoday.com/issue/045/The%20%E2..._.htm
"WASHINGTON — Even as President Bush's popularity dropped to record lows, his administration was embraced warmly this week by the thousands of delegates at the most influential annual gathering of American Jewish activists." March 10, 2006 with the help of Pastor Hagee - http://www.forward.com/articles/7458
"Dr. Hagee has been to Israel 22 times and has met with every Prime Minister since Menechim Begin. John Hagee Ministries has given more than $8.5 million to bring Soviet Jews from the former Soviet Union to Israel. Dr. Hagee is also the Founder and Executive Director of “A NIGHT TO HONOR ISRAEL” an event which expresses solidarity between Christians and Jews on behalf of Jerusalem, the State of Israel and the United States." from John Hagee's bio on his website - http://www.jhm.org/pastor.asp - Here's the frontdoor to the website, it's worth a look. - http://www.jhm.org/
I wonder what way the General see's all this Armageddon stuff?
Does he think his nephew a nutball?
Does he think Bush is doing God's work?
Does he think he's doing God's work? If he isn't doing God's work, whose work is he doing?